Jerry of the Circus - El Mundo Doesn't Obey

Summary

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Jerry of the Circus - “El Mundo Doesn't Obey”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: May 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "Jerry of the Circus" centers on the arrival of a famed elephant, El Mundo, recently imported from Spain, who suddenly refuses to obey his new circus handlers. As chaos ensues, Jerry, Tom, and their friends attempt to uncover why the previously gentle and well-mannered elephant has become so unmanageable. Through a blend of humor, suspense, and classic circus camaraderie, the episode explores misunderstandings, cultural differences, and the bonds between humans and animals in the golden era of the traveling circus.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

1. The Arrival of El Mundo (02:06–03:45)

• The episode opens with excitement about the acquisition of El Mundo, "the smartest elephant in the world."
• Tom explains that El Mundo came with his keeper all the way from Spain, and now Olson, a top trainer, is taking over but struggling.
• Notable Quote, Tom (02:14): "Well, you wouldn't want a valuable pachyderm like that to go around without a chaperone, would you?"

2. El Mundo’s Refusal to Obey (03:46–05:18)

• Olson describes his struggle with El Mundo, saying the elephant is “the sulkiest bull I've ever handled.”
• It took an hour and a half just to get El Mundo to lie down for a brushing, causing circus management to contemplate sending angry messages back to the sellers in Europe.
• Olson (04:27): "If they've given me a lemon, they're not gonna get away with it."

3. A Candy Mystery and Clues (05:36–08:06)

• Attention shifts when Jerry’s dog, Rags, finds a piece of suspicious candy wrapped in rice paper — the same paper type as a recent threatening note to Carmen.
• The group suspects foul play and resolves to investigate, with Jerry determined to ensure Rags doesn’t eat poisoned candy.
• Jerry (06:47): “Well, I’m gonna find out who gave it to Rags before I let him have it.”

4. Seeking the Source: Connections to Carmen (08:06–09:10)

• Jerry and the group visit Carmen, partly to ask about the rice paper and partly because she may know more about El Mundo from her Spanish circus background.
• A poignant moment: Carmen is overjoyed at the mention of El Mundo, indicating she knew him from childhood.
• Carmen (08:43): "Do I know this animal? I should say so. For years I have worked with him."

5. The Language Barrier Revealed (09:48–12:31)

• Carmen approaches the unmanageable elephant and instantly soothes him; El Mundo responds to her Spanish commands, exposing the misunderstanding.
• Carmen (12:10): "Here I show to you, El Mundo. Sientate... There, you see? He understand. Now you talk to him in English. No wonder he cannot obey. He no understand."
• Olson and the others realize El Mundo’s unruliness stemmed from confusion — he only responded to Spanish, not English.
• Olson (12:31): "Well, I'm a blithering idiot if there ever was one."

6. Resolution & Aftermath (12:52–13:07)

• The crisis with El Mundo is averted. Carmen stays with her old friend, and Jerry rushes off to stop Mr. Randall from reporting the “lemon elephant.”
• The group is left with a new mystery: Was the bearded lady connected to the threatening notes and the mysterious candy?
• The episode closes with a gentle hint that the candy-paper subplot remains unresolved, setting up intrigue for future episodes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom, on El Mundo’s status:
  “El Mundo... it means the world. Kind of fitting, isn’t it?” (02:29)
• Olson’s exasperation:
  “This is the sulkiest bull I’ve ever handled.” (03:22)
• Jerry, detective at heart:
  “Now listen, Rags. Where did this come from? That’s it. Take us where you got it.” (06:51)
• Carmen’s recognition:
  “El Mundo, the greatest elephant in all the world. He’s so gentle like a lamb, so kind like a mother. So good.” (11:19)
• The Language revelation:
  Carmen: “Now you talk to him in English. No wonder he cannot obey. He no understand.” (12:26)
• Group’s realization:
  Jerry: “Can you beat it? All of us stand around and not one of us realizes he can’t understand us.” (12:34)

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Timeline / Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:59: Title and shifting to main plot
• 02:06: Introduction and background on El Mundo
• 03:22: Olson details problems with the new elephant
• 05:25: Jerry and Rags find the suspicious candy
• 06:20: Discovery of rice paper and connection to Carmen’s note
• 08:22: Carmen’s emotional reaction to El Mundo’s arrival
• 09:48: Olson struggles, Carmen intervenes with Spanish
• 12:04: Carmen gives commands in Spanish, El Mundo responds
• 12:31: Olson’s realization about the language barrier
• 13:07: The episode’s unresolved mystery about the candy and paper resurfaces

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Style and Tone

The episode balances lighthearted banter, gentle suspense, and heartfelt nostalgia, capturing the innocence and warmth of classic radio drama. Characters speak in plain, earnest tones, quick with jokes or exclamations, channeling a genuine sense of circus camaraderie and small-town wonder.

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For Listeners New and Old

This episode exemplifies “Jerry of the Circus” at its best: a blend of misadventure, clever detective work, and warm comic relief. Whether new or familiar with the series, it provides charming insight into both the everyday challenges and unique mysteries of circus life — with an ending that promises more intrigue to come.

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Transcript

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[Jerry]

Visit your nearby Lowes.

[Tom]

Jerry of the circus.

[Carmen]

It. Sam.

[Tom]

Now for Jerry of the Circus.

[Jerry]

You're sure lucky, Mr. Randall, getting the smartest elephant in the world. Isn't he, Tom?

[Narrator/Observer]

I'll say. And imagine sending this keeper all the way over here from Spain.

[Tom]

Well, you wouldn't want a valuable pachyderm like that to go around without a chaperone, would you? Pachyderm?

[Jerry]

There's a catch to that. I'm afraid to ask what it means.

[Tom]

That's an easy one. It means elephant.

[Jerry]

What's his name, Mr. Randall?

[Tom]

El Mundo.

[Jerry]

Spanish, huh?

[Tom]

Right the first time. It means the world.

[Jerry]

Kind of fitting, isn't it? See? What did Olson say the trouble was all about?

[Tom]

I couldn't quite make it out. Seems that the trainer, minute he left, he handed over the bull to Olson.

[Jerry]

You mean headed back for Spain?

[Tom]

Yeah, I guess so. I had to buy him a round trip ticket.

[Narrator/Observer]

Gee, you think he'd stay a while and see the country?

[Jerry]

Yeah, after making such a long trip,

[Tom]

he probably has to get back. That's neither here nor there. The thing is that Olson, one of the best bull trainers in the world, is up a tree with this elephant.

[Jerry]

Golly, I thought Olson could handle most any bull.

[Tom]

And so did I. The funny thing about El Mundo is that he's been all over the world with that European circus, and he's known for being one of the easiest circus elephants in the business.

[Jerry]

Hey, there's Olson now. He's got the men sweeping off.

[Olson]

Oh, yeah.

[Jerry]

Hey, that must be the new elephant. Golly, he's big.

[Tom]

He certainly is. Well, Olson, things going any better?

[Olson]

It sure beats me, Mr. Randall. This is the sulkiest bull I've ever handled.

[Tom]

Well, how'd you get him to lie down in order to brush him off?

[Olson]

Well, it took me an hour and a half.

[Jerry]

An hour and a half? Say, that's fierce.

[Olson]

I had to chain him to a couple of other bulls, and we dumped him down. Sounded like an earthquake. And did this baby squeal. It's a wonder you didn't hear the noise.

[Tom]

No, no, I just come on the lot and the boys have been working all morning.

[Olson]

Well, he sure got me beat. I don't know how we're going to work him, let alone allow him in the ring.

[Tom]

Well, there must be. Listen, after the expense I've been to, I'm not going to give up without a good try.

[Olson]

Well, you just watch us while we try to get this baby up. Come on, El Mundo.

[Jerry]

Why, you wouldn't think he even heard you.

[Olson]

Hey, boy, you prod him and make him get up on his feet.

[Tom]

You're getting a lot of noise but no action.

[Olson]

Yeah, you're telling me.

[Tom]

I guess I'll have to get a cable off to the outfit that sold them to me. You can't have this sort of thing going on.

[Olson]

I'll say not. I'll have to chain that crazy bull to other elephants to load him onto the cars at night instead of helping me. He's just gonna mean a heap of work.

[Tom]

Well, I'm sending a cable over there right away. If they've given me a lemon, they're not gonna get away with it. I'll be back later, Olson.

[Olson]

Okay, Mr. Randall.

[Jerry]

Greg. Hello there, old fella. Heard all the excitement, huh? See? What's that in your mouth?

[Narrator/Observer]

Gee, it looks like an empty piece of paper.

[Jerry]

Here, gimme. I wanna play. Huh? Gimme that paper. Ha. Fool, you didn. Well, it may be empty now, but it hasn't been. Looks to me like you've been getting candy. So that's it. All wrapped up in a nice piece of paper. And you'd eaten all the crumbs. If I'd never found it. I thought you didn't eat things from other people. What about this?

[Narrator/Observer]

Say, Jerry, the candy might have fallen out. See? It's not a bag.

[Olson]

That's it, men. Let him loose now.

[Jerry]

So that's it. You want to know if you can have the candy.

[Olson]

I wish that new bull of mine was half as smart as Rags.

[Jerry]

Well, of course, Rags is kind of special. All right, Rags, where'd you get the candy? We'll go on back and maybe I'll let you have some. We'll be right back, Wilson. Rags comes first, you know.

[Olson]

Sure thing. You kids are welcome anytime.

[Narrator/Observer]

Thanks. I sure wish we could help you with El Mundo.

[Olson]

I wish you could, too. There's something back of all this. We made an awful mistake to let that trainer go so soon. But I guess it's too late to be helped now.

[Jerry]

Hey, don't be in such a hurry, Rags. Yeah, we're coming. Bye, Olson.

[Olson]

So long.

[Narrator/Observer]

Say, Jerry, your dog sure Is a knockout.

[Jerry]

I'll say. Say, I wonder who gave Rags a candy. Good night.

[Narrator/Observer]

Now what? Well look at this piece of paper

[Jerry]

it was wrapped in.

[Carmen]

Well what of it?

[Jerry]

Oh, did you ever see this before?

[Carmen]

Well no.

[Narrator/Observer]

Why?

[Jerry]

Notice anything funny about it?

[Narrator/Observer]

It's awful thin.

[Jerry]

You bet it is. And it's not like the usual paper around here, is it?

[Carmen]

No.

[Jerry]

Well it's rice paper, that's what it is. Cause when we found that note in Carmen's wagon with a dagger stuck in it. Carmen said that piece of paper was rice paper.

[Carmen]

No, honest.

[Tom]

Uh huh.

[Jerry]

And it was just like the same piece of paper.

[Narrator/Observer]

Could it be the same?

[Jerry]

Of course not. The other had writin on it. Now what? Oh, so you found one of the pieces of candy, huh? Well maybe you can have it and maybe you can't.

[Narrator/Observer]

You think it might be poisoned?

[Jerry]

Well, I'm gonna find out who gave it to Rag before I let him have it. Now listen Rags. Where did this come from? That's it. Take us where you got it.

[Carmen]

Go on.

[Narrator/Observer]

Look, he does understand. See? He's turned right around and he's heading for. Now what?

[Jerry]

Nothing. He just found another piece of candy that must have dropped out. All right old fella. I'll keep it until we know if it's okay for you to have.

[Narrator/Observer]

Say, he's wonderful. Now he's going right.

[Jerry]

Looks like he's heading for the quarters belonging to the freeze.

[Narrator/Observer]

Yeah, he sure enough know where he wants to go.

[Jerry]

Why that's the bearded lady's wagon. Oh, so she gave you the candy, huh? Hi there. Say hello.

[Narrator/Observer]

Doesn't look as if anyone's there.

[Jerry]

It's me, Jerry. Anyone home?

[Narrator/Observer]

If the door's open, why don't you look in?

[Jerry]

Well if she's there and wants to talk to me, she'll answer. I don't want it to look like I'm snooping.

[Narrator/Observer]

I see. Hmm, doesn't look like anyone's home.

[Jerry]

I wonder if that's the same kind of paper Carmen's threatening note was written on. I'd sure like to know.

[Narrator/Observer]

While the bearded lady's gone, might be a good time to look around and see if she's got some more of that paper. Might find a clue.

[Jerry]

I know, but I guess I better check with Carmen and see if this space is the same as hers. Come on. Her wagon's right near here. Let's see if she's home. Well, speaking of angels. Hi there, Carmen.

[Carmen]

Ah, and it is the master too.

[Jerry]

We were just coming to visit you.

[Carmen]

You were? How nice I go back home and you can come and visit me now.

[Jerry]

Oh, no, that's not necessary. We just wanted to see you, that's all. Tom and I were over looking at that new bull elephant from Spain.

[Carmen]

What elephant? Something come from my own country. Tell me.

[Jerry]

Well, Mr. Randall bought a famous elephant. At least he thought he did. Called El Mundo.

[Carmen]

No, no, not El Mundo. El profio mio El Mundo. Oh, Jerry, donde? I mean, where is he, this old friend of mine?

[Jerry]

Do you know El Mundo?

[Carmen]

Do I know this animal? I should say so. For years I have worked with him.

[Narrator/Observer]

I bet Mr. Randall will be glad

[Jerry]

to hear about that. I'll say so. What did you do with him, Carmen?

[Carmen]

I worked with El Mundo when I was little girl. I go out in the ring and he carry me on his trunk. I was only six, seven. Just a baby, really.

[Jerry]

Say, you have been with the circus a long time?

[Carmen]

Of course. I grow up in the circus. But come quick. We must go to see El Mondo. Quick, this minute.

[Jerry]

All right, Carmen, but I think I better warn you.

[Carmen]

What? Something is wrong. Tell me quick. Is it bad?

[Jerry]

Well, you see, it's like this. No one can make him do anything. He won't obey. He's sulky, even gone on a hunger strike. Olson can't manage him.

[Carmen]

Oh, no. Mi propio. I no believe it.

[Jerry]

Well, it's true. Unless they sent Mr. Randall the wrong elephant.

[Carmen]

Oh, I so wish this was my old friend El Mundo. What a gentle animal. He understand everything I say to him. Such a good beast.

[Narrator/Observer]

Look, there's Olson over there. Looks like they're dragging that new bull over to the menagerie tent.

[Jerry]

Yeah, they are, of course. Oh, Olson. Hey, Olson.

[Olson]

Oh. Oh, hello, Jerry. You back again so soon?

[Jerry]

Yeah, I brought someone to see El Mundo.

[Olson]

Well, he's all right to look at, but he's certainly an old treat to work with.

[Carmen]

I am almost afraid to look. I get so excited when I hear El Mundo is here. And now it must be some other animal.

[Jerry]

But I. Carmen used to work with the real El Mundo. She wants to see if this is her old friend.

[Olson]

Oh, so Carmen, you. You know him, huh? Well, that's good. Hey, boys, bring that bull back. We were just putting him away.

[Carmen]

But what is it? He's chained to those other bulls. Oh, it is sad.

[Olson]

You bet your life it's sad. It's a major tragedy, if you ask me. I can't do a thing with him.

[Carmen]

Oh, the poor thing. Here, let me see him.

[Olson]

Well, what do you know about.

[Jerry]

Well, it's a Right Elephant. All right. Look at her.

[Narrator/Observer]

He put on his foot and she walked right up close to his head.

[Olson]

I'll be. If ever an animal was glad to see a person. That's it.

[Jerry]

Look how gentle he is with her.

[Carmen]

El Mondo.

[Jerry]

Carmen. Hey, Kishi doesn't even hear us.

[Carmen]

Look how.

[Jerry]

Look how he puts his trunk around her. So gentle.

[Olson]

Carmen. Hey, it is the right one, huh?

[Carmen]

Of course it is. El Mundo, the greatest elephant in all the world. He's so gentle like a lamb, so kind like a mother. So good.

[Jerry]

Okay, Carmen. You see, Olson, she used to work with El Mundo when she was a little girl.

[Olson]

Oh, so that explains it. Carmen. Carmen. Say.

[Narrator/Observer]

Oh, yes, Mr. Orson, will you tell me something?

[Olson]

Why can't I make that bull work?

[Carmen]

I do not know. He works fine. He's smart and always so good.

[Olson]

Well, I'd certainly like to know the combination. What is it?

[Carmen]

What do you do?

[Olson]

Jump down? I'll show you. There you are. Now I'll try again. All right. El Mundo. Down.

[Carmen]

Oh, lay down.

[Olson]

Quick arrow.

[Carmen]

Oh, no, no, not like that. No, no. Oh, poor El Mundo. No wonder. Here I show to you El Mundo. Sientate. Ban. Conigo. Sientate. There, you see? He understand. Now you talk to him in English. No wonder he cannot obey. He no understand.

[Olson]

Well, I'm a blithering idiot if there ever was one.

[Jerry]

Can you beat it? All of us stand around and not one of us realizes he can't understand us.

[Narrator/Observer]

Golly, that's funny.

[Carmen]

Oh, funny. It is sad. Me pobriamigo. He's so willing, but he not even know what you want. Oh, I'm so happy to have El Mundo back again.

[Jerry]

See? We better run and tell Mr. Randall before he sends off that cablegram.

[Narrator/Observer]

Say, we'd better at that. Come on, let's go now.

[Jerry]

Okay. Come on, Rag. We'll be back. Carmen.

[Carmen]

Yes. I stay here with my good friend El Mondo.

[Jerry]

All The Crazy Things GE west no.

[Carmen]

1.

[Jerry]

Oh, well, we forgot all about asking Carmen about that piece of paper. We've got to find if the same person who gave Rags the candy is the same one who's sending those threatening notes.

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[Jerry]

Visit your nearby Lowe's.

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